A l p e e d k



@nimh faire @anni @fitta ALFRED K. DAVIS, OF CAREY, QHIO.

Leners Para: No. 70,537, dared Novanta; 5, lect.

IMPROVBD GATE-LATCH.

dav- TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, ALFRED K. DAVIS, of Carey, in the county of Wyandott, and Stute oi Ohio, have invented a new and improved Gate-Latch; and I do hereby declare that the following is a'fulhclear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and usc the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part oflv this specification i This invention relates to an improved gate-latch, and consists of two bars pivoted on an upright secured to the gate-post, or upon the gate-post itself, the bars being attached at one end to another uprightor connectingbar, operated by a lever' similarly pivoted and attached, or where the latch-bars 'are pivoted to the gate-post, then pivote-d upon an upright or ear attached at the top of the gate-post. The free ends of the latch-bars hold the gate by extending over thefront vertical bar thereof. To open the gate the movable upright is operated by lowering the free Aend of the lever, thereby depressing the free ends o f thevlatch-bars and releasing them from the gate. The weight of the movable upright sulices to close thel latch-bars, and when it is desired to prevent this the lever is held in a catchat the top of the gate-post. The movable upright may be replaced-by a cord, in which case the centres of gravity of the latch-bars and their free ends must be on oppositeA sides of their pivots.- In the accompanying drawingsv Figure 1 is a front, and

Figure 2 atop view of gate having my improved latch annexed.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts.

A is the front vertical bar of gate; B the front gate-post, to which the upright C is bolted, at b andl Ii',- by bolts passing through the latch-bars DD', to which they serve as pivots; or the latch-bars may be pivoted upon upright C, and the latter only secured to theffront gate-post B or the upright maybe dispensed with, the latch-bars being pivotcd to the front gate-post, and a short upright or ear attached to the top of the gate` post to serve as a fulcrum to Alever F. A movable upright, E, is bolted toithe ends of the bars D D', and to thc end of the levcrF, pivoted on upright C, or its equivalent, at f. The movable upright E may be replaced by a cord.connecting the latch-bars D and D and the end of vlever F, but in that case the latch-bars D D must be pivoted between their centres of gravity and their free ends, while the centre of gravity of lever F and its free ends should be on the same side of the fulcrum or pivotf. A pin or catch upon the front4 gate-post A, just above the horizontal position of latch-bars D D', will prevent the weight of said latch-bars from carrying them too far over, while the weight of leverf, acting in thed opposite direction, will' hold taut the connecting-cord substituted for the upright E. Thev ends of the latch-bars lock the gate by extending over its 4front vertical bar A.

To open the gate, depress the free end of lever F, thereby raising upright E, and vwith it the bolted or tied ends ot' latch-bars D D), depressing the free ends of said bars, thereby releasing them from the front vertical bar A of gate. To hold the latch open, the end of lever E is to be secured in catch g, on top of front gate-post B. A slight blow or jar releases the lever from the catch g, when the weight of the upright E or ofthe latch'- bars restores tlie,latcl1bars D Dtc their horizontal position, holding the gate closed. A guide-block muy be placed on the ground-rail G to guide the upright E to place, and when the ground-rail is dispensed-with, a ground-block placed under the foot of E prevents it from sinking into the ground.

The gate by the use of my improved latch is not liable to be injured by hogs and other small animals twisting it open below and squeezing through, nor by horsescows, and other large cattle racking it above by pushing with their breasts against` the top, as frequently happens to gates latched in the centre. Furthermore, when the latch is set upon the gate, as is now the ordinary practice, the gate is apt to sag down, so that to latch it the whole gate has to be lifted-a defect from which a gate providedwith Amy improved latch is entirely free.' My improved latch is also more readily operated than any other latch, especiallyby horseuicn.

I claim as new, and `desire to secure by Letters Patent- '.lhe pirated latch-bars D D and connecting-bar E, and their respective equivalents, all asset forth, in

combination with the lever F, oprn'ting and arranged in manner substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.

ALFRED K. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

PETER Simonis, RoswnLL PERRY. 

